Fair Elections forNew York

Tired of the wealthy and well-connected calling the shots in Albany?

The Fair Elections Reform Package Would:

Increase the power of small donations. It is critical we implement a small-donor matching system for state elections, including District Attorneys. This gives everyday people the means to run for office and represent their communities while relying on small donations instead of large checks. New York could lead the nation by becoming the first state since Citizens United to pass comprehensive campaign finance reform. By matching small-dollar donations with public funding — $6-to-every $1 raised — we can amplify the voices of women; of people of color; of the working and middle classes; and of any and all under-represented New Yorkers in the political process.

Following the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision, small-donor matching funds remains the most powerful way to counter the unlimited, secret money flowing into our elections. Adequate enforcement as well as robust candidate support services would ensure the matching funds program runs smoothly.

Limit the influence of big money. The very wealthy and corporations shouldn’t be allowed to buy elections. The Governor and the Legislature took a step forward by shrinking the “LLC loophole,” which allows mega donors to funnel limitless amounts to candidates. We can now put a check on the outsized influence of big donors by fully closing the LLC loophole and by reducing New York’s unusually high contribution limits, among other improvements.

Protect New Yorkers’ freedom to vote. This year, New York passed historic voting reforms. We must continue to make it easier for New Yorkers to exercise their freedom to vote including by passing automatic voter registration and codifying into law New York’s policy to extend voting rights to all New Yorkers with past convictions.

Take Action Now

New Yorkers deserve a responsive, accountable government. Voter turnout in New York is among the lowest in the nation, due in part to antiquated procedures for registration and voting that discourage participation. And our campaign finance system favors the wealthy over everyday, working New Yorkers. To tackle the crises we face in housing, living wage jobs, criminal justice, affordable health care, transportation, climate, fair taxes, and more, we must transform a campaign finance system that advantages the interests of the few over those of the many.